| NIHRAC (K3YGG) NIH Building 13 Room G-903 Bethesda, MD 20892 |
Emergency Communications Center NIH Building 11 Room 308 phone: 301 496-5311 |
NIHRAC Web site http://nihac.info.nih.gov/nihrac/k3ygghp.html
The next meeting will be held at noon on Thursday June 4, 1998 in the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) located on the third floor of Building 11.
The meeting was called to order by Vice President Larry Martin at 12:05 p.m. The minutes of the April 2, 1998 meeting were accepted as written.
Members attending the meeting were: Jon Casamento N3YIA, Bill Hook W3QBC, Larry Martin W3IBO, Dan Reggia N3ENT, Chuck Sherman N3WTO, Tom Vegella K1FEX and Bryan West K2BW.
Chuck Sherman would like to borrow a recent (post-1994) study guide for the Advanced Class Amateur license.
Andy Mitz is looking for FM-band only, table model broadcast receivers. He would like to hear from anyone with information about these seldom seen items.
Andy also advises that he has heard from book authors who would like to include a description of the NIHRAC "Listening Post" in an upcoming book about active Web content.
The Vice President asked if there had been any progress made in upgrading the ECC antennas and tower. No report was forthcoming. It was suggested that the damaged Hy-Gain 18AVT HF vertical be removed from the roof.
NIHRAC volunteers included Andy Mitz, Al Taylor, Jim Hobbs, Quin Marsh, Harold Simon, Chuck Sherman, Bill Hook, Larry Wolken, John Muller, Larry Martin, Mike Thomas and Ernst Gehrels. A written report has been prepared and distributed.
Features of the test included the use of 447.925 MHz simplex as the primary frequency rather than VHF and the opportunity to evaluate the PHS-1 DMAT's Motorola JT-1000 HTs. Ross Merlin has subsequently provided information about how the JT-1000's squelch may be adjusted and how an earphone may be attached. We learned that NIHRAC is considered a major player in these events as evidenced by the managers waiting until all NIHRAC volunteers had reported in from their posts before beginning the test.
On Friday, April 24 NIHRAC members Jon Casamento, Bill Hook, Larry Martin, Al Taylor, Tom Vegella and Bryan West participated with the Parklawn Amateur Radio Club to provide radio contact around the course that traversed portions of Parklawn Drive, Twinbrook Parkway and Veirs Mill Road. Bryan noted that there were approximately 300 runners and 1000 walkers. Bryan was commended for his excellent job of organizing the radio operators and serving as Net Control.
On Tuesday evening April 14 Bill Hook operated K3YGG and MEMA Unit 48 during the monthly communications exercise. Seven messages were received and one sent. Volunteers are needed for the May 12 activity.
Bill Hook suggested that we undertake a fund raising campaign to purchase parts for the project. This might involve accepting donations of used equipment as well as cash. He offered to donate for sale a vintage Heathkit station consisting of a SB-303 receiver, SB-401 transmitter, SB-610 monitor Scope and SB-620 panadapter as well as other items of possible value to collectors.
Thanks were bestowed to Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Chuck Sherman who dealt with the NIH Federal Credit Union to update the authorized signatures for our account and to correct the address to which they have been (mis)sending our monthly statements.
Dues collected this year from full members amounted to $100. A $15 cash contribution from member Vernon Taylor was acknowledged with thanks.
Jim Hobbs reported by HF packet radio from North Carolina that NIHRAC's new transceiver in the ECC "has made a large difference in the performance of the HF port". He said he believes that its better filtering and good frequency stability are the reasons for the improvement over the TS-820 previously used. Jim notes that the HF path back to k3ygg is much more reliable than the multihop VHF method and that he's been keeping an eye on the k3ygg mailbox from afar.
Instructions for using the TS-570 on CW and SSB are posted on the shelf holding the transceiver. After exploring these modes please return it to packet use as the note describes.
John Muller, Ernst Gehrels, Chuck Sherman and Bob Haslach toured the decommissioned Naval Transmitting Facility in Annapolis on April 18. Chuck gave a brief report about the station and its massive equipment, but noted they weren't giving away free samples.
Updated NIHRAC membership lists in both paper and electronic format will be distributed in May. Please check the lists that you receive as well as your mailing label and advise Bill Hook of any corrections or changes required.
de ka3wcf and w3qbc